Newbie Question

[RDish]

Big fan of this site and the game of BJ. Just returned from a trip to Vegas last weekend and wanted to ask this question: Does the player have slightly better odds against the house in the Double Deck (dealt face down) versus normal 6 or 8 deck game?

The game I normally play is higher limits ($100 or $200 per hand) and the double deck game does not allow a surrender. S17 and DAS and double any two. Versus a 6 or 8 deck game with same rules except for allowing a surrender (late). Which one is better?

Is it possible to keep a count on a double deck dealt face down? Ultimately, the player will see all the cards face up at the end of every hand.

My experiences on the last few trips have been much better on the double deck tables. In fact, I killed it the last trip on the double deck, but I cannot seem to stay away from the craps tables and sportsbook and gave most back. I guess that is info for another website though. Any insight is appreciated.

[Canceler]

Originally Posted by RDish

Does the player have slightly better odds against the house in the Double Deck (dealt face down) versus normal 6 or 8 deck game?

Yes. If you go to the Basic Strategy Engine and plug in the # of decks and rules, not only will you get the BS, but at the top it gives the approximate casino advantage.

Originally Posted by RDish

Is it possible to keep a count on a double deck dealt face down? Ultimately, the player will see all the cards face up at the end of every hand.

Yes, since you do get to see all the cards.

[bj bob]

Originally Posted by RDish

Big fan of this site and the game of BJ. Just returned from a trip to Vegas last weekend and wanted to ask this question: Does the player have slightly better odds against the house in the Double Deck (dealt face down) versus normal 6 or 8 deck game?

There is a fixed intrinsic house advantage value as to the number of decks used in a game. The net difference between SD and DD (all other rules being equal) is .37%. The net difference between DD and 6D is .25%. These advantages are rather significant and in many cases outweigh rule variations such as DOA, DAS and even s/h 17.

Is it possible to keep a count on a double deck dealt face down? Ultimately, the player will see all the cards face up at the end of every hand.

Sure,your bet is already placed at the point of the deal, so that part cannot be changed. The real-time RC during the actual play of the round is somewhat hindered by the hole card effect, but a seasoned pitch game player has ways to overcome this lack of data.

[E-town-guy]

If you are card counting you must also look into things like deck penetration to determine which game is better.

[RDish]

That is part of my question regarding counting on double deck. In watching how the dealer cuts, they seem to have a preset slot that the dealer always uses as the end card. It looks to be just under one deck from the end. How does that impact a count?

[rukus]

that is called penetration (insert joke). you were probably getting something like 60% pen it sounds like, which is ok, but not great.

the higher the penetration, the more opportunity the count has to fluctuate and the more likely you are to see the "unusually" high counts (which we like to see as counters) at which we make big bets. alternatively though, you are more likely to see the unusually negative counts as well. this is exactly why e-town guy mentioned in addition to # decks/rules, you NEED to consider penetration. probably the single biggest determinant of your advantage in a given game.